I attempted 2 Covert Heist missions today for the first time. For these, you have to infiltrate a base and steal a item from a Sample Container without raising the alarms.
I found them quite challenging. You cannot open the Sample Container unless you first disable alarms in the settlement. So you have to figure out a way into the security area without raising suspicion.
On the first mission I totally flubbed it by trying to overload a worker and failing. I had to run for it, with a skimmer in hot pursuit. Failed the mission and got a Fine.
However on the second one, I successfully cloned a level 3 guy, and snuck into the Security area (which required level 3 access). There was a guy in there, so I tried to slip in and disable the alarms without him noticing. It mostly worked. I disabled them, and then he noticed me and yelled at me to get out. So, I got out, and he let me go without further escalation. Whew. Moments like those my heart actually thumps
After that I just needed to get into a level 2 area and take the sample. It was across the base, so I had to avoid guards on the way (I still had my fake level 3 ID).
There was only a worker there, no guards inside, so I was able to just open the container and wait the 3 minutes until the sample popped out. I grabbed it and hightailed it for my ship. Success.
It's very cool to look out the window and see your ship waiting outside:
Sample Containment almost open!
The planet I was on was one of the better looking ones, especially from the air: